On August 6th, 1945, the United States dropped the world’s first atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, killing an estimated 70,000 to 80,000 individuals instantly. Just three days after this atrocity, on August 9th, a second bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki, where an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 individuals were killed on impact. By the end of 1945, approximately 140,000 individuals in Hiroshima and up to 80,000 individuals in Nagasaki succumbed to atomic bomb-related injuries, including radiation sickness and severe burns. In the years that followed this nuclear travesty, tens of thousands more perished from radiation-induced illnesses, bringing the overall death toll to 210,000 lives lost. Those who survived the attacks, known as Hibakusha or bomb-affected people, endured lifelong physical, psychological, and societal grief from bearing witness to these horrendous attacks and the catastrophic consequences of the use of atomic weapons. Among those deeply affected were thousands of Japanese Americans who, despite their U.S. citizenship, faced immense challenges in the aftermath of the atomic bombings. Approximately 3,000 survivors of the attacks returned home after the war, joined by Japanese immigrants seeking to rebuild their lives in the wake of devastation. However, unlike Japanese Hibakusha, Japanese American survivors received little medical care, social support, or official recognition from either government. Many had left Japan before support systems were established and faced stigmatization tied to both their survivor status and wartime suspicions. Cold War attitudes further complicated their situation, portraying them as remnants of a defeated enemy rather than victims deserving compassion. As a result, many were pressured to remain silent about their experiences to avoid discrimination or jeopardizing their standing in American society. Despite these barriers, Japanese American Hibakusha persevered, ultimately organizing to demand recognition, care, and justice for the lasting consequences of the atomic bombings. Other victims of nuclear weapons that we remember include the people of the Navajo Nation and the people of the Marshall Islands, who suffered much of the same devastation from nuclear weapons outside of any military conflict. On U.S. soil, thousands of people on Navajo Nation land have been and continue to be poisoned with radiation from the mining of uranium ore used in the production of nuclear weapons and the disposal of mining waste. Due to the level of exposure, people residing on Navajo Nation land suffer much higher rates of cancer and adverse health issues caused by radiation exposure. Over 1,000 abandoned and unremediated uranium mine waste sites and new uranium mining sites continue to poison the Navajo Nation’s air, soil, and water today. In the Pacific, the testing of nuclear arms left a devastating impact on the people of the Marshall Islands. From 1946 to 1958, 23 atomic and thermonuclear weapons were detonated across the atoll. Over 150 Marshallese people were forcefully removed from the Bikini Atoll, with the promise that they would be allowed to return shortly, a promise that would not be kept. The Castle Bravo test, the largest nuclear detonation ever conducted by the United States, would launch radioactive fallout into the air and blanket Bikini Atoll and many of the surrounding atolls, irradiating everything in sight. Background radiation has since returned to normal levels, but the ground, water, and plants continue to remain irradiated, leaving the Bikini Atoll mostly uninhabitable to this day. Amid these lasting harms, a global movement has emerged to confront the legacy of nuclear weapons and advocate for a future free from their threat. In 2024, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, known as the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers' Organizations, in recognition of the decades of work dedicated to ensuring the voices of the Hibakusha are heard and fully understood in order for this history to never happen again. The awarding of this high honor nearly eighty years after the bombings is a powerful reminder that their work is far from complete. Nihon Hidankyo’s rallying cry, “No More Hibakusha”, is a powerful testament to honoring our ancestors and an urgent call to action to protect our present and future. The JACL joins this urgent call to action by renewing our calls for nuclear disarmament and calling for an immediate end to the use of any military arms against civilian populations. From August 6 to August 9, and beyond, we urge our members, chapters, and communities to honor the Hibakusha, our ancestors, and all victims of nuclear violence and nuclear contamination by attending community remembrance events, engaging in education, and amplifying survivor voices. We also echo the need for the return of the Sadako Sasaki statue to the Seattle Peace Park as a symbol of hope, peace, and heroism. Lastly, we demand that the United States government take a meaningful step towards a nuclear-free world by signing the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and urging our allies to do the same. |
